Article of manufacture



Patented Dec. 11, 1945 Edith A. Westerberg, New York, N. Y.

' No Drawing. Application August 16, 1944, Serial No. 549,805

I 6 Claims.

488,816, now Patent 2,360,970 of which this is a continuation-impart. The powder is to be used for washing delicate articles of lingerie etc., without inJury to the original colors.

My invention has for its object to produce as a new anticle of manufacture a soap powder of such fineness that it will, for example, for a 200 mesh screen, resemble face powder.

A further object is to make a soap powder which will produce a greater amount of suds than is obtained byv the use of any present known soaps or soap powder.

A further object of myinvention is to produce a fine colored soap powder, the suds of which will hold their form, for a much longer period of time than any on the market.

It is well. known that in washing such articles it is of prime importance to havegoodsiids that will last.

A further object is to provide a soap powder which will by its appearance make an appeal to the esthetic emotions of the user, by reason of its color, appearance, fineness and perfume.

I produce this new article by the following method prescribed in the said application:

I mix 9 ounces avoirdupois of soap with 24 ounces fluid measure of cold water to form an emulsion, to this I add 24 ounces of fluid measure of water heated approximately 180 F. I then add the water-soluble color in sufiicient quantity to produce the desired shade, and a suitable perfume is then added. The addition of both coloring and perfume to this soap solution results in a powder that is unique in the field of soap powders;

and because the process of extreme aeration as hereinafter set forth in the method of manufacture, permits the use of a great amount of coloring matterto be added to the soap solution, the resultant powder has a deeper shade of coloring than would obtain, for instance, if colored solid soap were ground to a powder. This deeper coloring, though not to be construed as a dye, tends to ofiset the loss of the original color of the garments which usually takes place in the washing process. g

The presence of perfume in this soap powder is an additional factor that has not heretofore been associated with utility soap powders, and the process of washing thereby leaves the garments not only freshened, but delicately scented, thus adding to the aesthetic appeal.

I have found in practice that the composition and/or proportions must be most carefully weighed and observed if one is to obtain the sought-for result. I then place the emulsion in a double boiler and heat it to not less than 65 C. This must be closely observed and since the temperature is critical a thermometer must be used at every step. When the solution changes from a cloudy appearance to one of water clearness it should be removed from the heat and placed in a vessel which is not only open to the atmosphere, but one which will permit the operator to watch each step of the process. Care must be taken that it does not become spongy or upon drying itwill disintegrate. The operator must see that it. does not assume a buttery appearance. Further it must not become crystalline in appearance or I can not obtain the powder I am endeavoring to make.

Practice shows that this mixture must be beaten first at a. comparatively slow speed, say approximately 200 to 210 R. P. M. until it will hold its body. The speed is then increased to about onethird faster which will produce a large bubble. I continue this higher speed until the mass assumes a roll appearance. Then continue the beating at the lower speed say 200 R. P. M., until the mass patterns like pie crust. This will produce a foam of the same color as that added to the soap solution (1. e. pink, blue, beige, etc.) whereas lather. produced from colored soaps is white. The heating should .not'cease until when a spoonful is removed the depression will retain sharp edges.

' It is highly important to closely observe the mass at this point for should it assume 'a slick or greasy appearance it cannot be successfully reduced to a powder of the required fineness. The mass is then removed and may be dried in the atmosphere in any desired manner if there is plenty of oxygen present. The dry mass may then be reduced to a powder of the required fineness which will correspond in' color to the coloring matter added to the soap solution. when I refer to a screen size it is based on the. well known TylerStandard, where the ratio between the different sizes of the screen scale has been taken as 1.414 or the square root of 2, the diameter of each successive opening 'being exactly 1.414 times the opening in the previous size screen and the area or surface of each successive opening in the scale is just double that of the next finer, while the area of the successive opening leaves a constant ratio of 2.

pheric temperature and heat it to approximately 65 G. Then I follow the remaining steps of the process as above set forth.

Although I describe an anhydrous soap as the preferred form, I have found in practice that I can use powder, flake bar, or even liquid soap provided the anhydrous percentage is within the required limits, and yet obtain a soap the particlesof which will be of the required. fineness. It has been proved by laboratory test that the viscosity of the soap solution at 65 C. using a 92 percent of anhydrous soap as a base, ranges from 28 seconds bythe Saybolt viscosimeter to a degree of viscosity above and beyond which can be recorded on the Saybolt viscosimeter.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein and that the invention is capable of various uses, as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention is, accordingly, to be limited only in accordance with the following claims when interpreted in view of the prior art.

Practice has shown that the powder thus produced will actually produce a greater amount of suds than the soap powder from which it is made and the suds will holdtheir form for a much longer period of time, yet as a cleaning agent its characteristics are unsurpassed.

Having described my invention what I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A new article of manufacture, a soap powder formed by mixing 9 ounces avoirdupois of soap with 24 ounces'fiuid of cold water to form an emulsion, then adding 24 ounces fluid of water heated approximately 180 F. then heating the resulting mixture until it reaches 65 C. then adding a water soluble coloring and the desired perfume, placing in a vessel open to the atmosphere and subject to observation and beating the mass at a speed of approximately 200 R. P. M.

until it assumes an appearance of colored frothiness and will hold its body and color, then increasing the speed until it is approximately 265 R. P. M. and continue until it assumes a roll appearance, then reducing the speed of the heater to approximately 200 R. P. M. and continue until the mass shows a pattern similar to pie crust and which when separated will show a sharp edge, drying said mass by exposure to air, then reducing the dried mass to a fine powder of the same color as that used in the mixture.

2. A new article of manufacture, a soap powder formed by mixing 9 ounces avoirdupois of soap with 24 ounces fluid of cold water to form an emulsion, then adding 24 ounces fluid of water heated to approximately 180 C., thenheating the resulting mixture until it reaches 65 C., then adding a water soluble coloring and desired perfume placing in a vessel open to the atmosphere and subject to observation and then beating slowly until the mass assumes an appearance of colored frothiness and will hold its body, then beating it at high speed until it assumes a roll appearance, then beating'it slowly until the mass shows a pattern like pie crust and which when separated will show a sharp edge, drying said mass by exposure to air then reducing the dried mass to a fine powder of the same color as that used in the mixture.

3. A new article of manufacture a soap powder formed by mixing 16 pounds of an 82 percent anhydrous soap and 10 gallons of colored water at atmospheric temperature, then heating until it reaches 65 C. then adding a water soluble color, and the desired perfume, placing in a vessel open to the atmosphere and subject to observation and beating the mass at a speed of approximately 200 R. P. M. until it assumes an appearanc of frothiness and will hold its body, then increasing the speed until it is approximately 265 R. P. M. and continue until it assumes a roll appearance, then reducing the speed of the beater to approximately 200 R. P. M. and continue until the mass shows a pattern similar to pie crust and which when separated will show a sharp edge, drying said mass by exposure to air then reducing the dried mass to a fine powder of the same color as that used in the mixture.

4. A new article of manufacture, a soap powder formed by mixing 16 pounds of an 82 percent anhydrous soap, and 10 gallons of water at atmospheric temperature, then heating until it reaches 65 C., then adding a water soluble coloring and the desired perfume placing in a vessel open to the atmosphere and subject to observation and then beating slowly until the mass assurnes an appearance of colored frothiness and will hold its body, then beating it at high speed until it assumes a roll appearance, then beating it slowly until the mass shows a pattern like pie crust, then reducing the dry mass to a fine powder of the same color as that used in the mixture.

5. A new article of manufacture, a soap powder formed by mixing 16 pounds of an 82 percent anhydrous soap, and 10 gallons of water at atmospheric temperature, then heating until it reaches 65 C., then adding a water soluble coloring and the desired perfume placing in a vessel open to the atmosphere and subject to observation, then beating slowly until the mass assumes an appearance of colored frothiness and will hold 'its body, then. beating it at high speed until it assumes a roll appearance, then beating it slowly until the mass shows a pattern like pie crust, then reducing the dry mass to a fine powder, said powder possessing the ability to create suds which will retain their form of the same color as that used in the mixture.

6. A new article of manufacture, a soap powder formed by mixing 16 pounds of an 82 percent anhydrous soap and 10 gallons of water at atmospheric temperature,' then heating until it reaches 65 C., then adding a water soluble color and the desired perfume, placing in a vessel open to the atmosphere and subject to observation and beating the mass at a speed of approximately 200 R. P. M., until it assumes an appearance of colored frothiness and will hold its body, then increasing the speed until it is approximately 265 R. P. M. and continue until it assumes a roll appearance, then reducing the speed of the beater to approximately 200 R. P. M. and continue until the mass shows a pattern similar to pie crust, and which when separated will show a. sharp edge, drying said mass by exposure to air then reducing the dried mass to a powder which is capable of passing through a screen of 200 mesh or finer of the same color as that used in the mixture.

EDITH A, WESTERBERG. 

